The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-02-18
A Story of a Book.

"Ies, indeed" echoed in unison Il
row of SCOTS novels, which stood in
like Il line of British soldiers with
bright red snltS. on an opposite shelf.
Come. what have Won got to say for
yourself::" inquired grutf old Ben jon
son. "What made YOU stick yourself in
here against our consent: :"
Il didn't want to come." answered
the Geography, mildly. "Indeed
didn't. 1t wasn't my fault. | was "
ing in the old cedar chest in the attic.
where | have lain ever since she Grew
up and where | would have been
now but
She - interrupted Dickens. who
is she. pray"
"Why, don't YOU know her :" re-
piled the Geography in amazement.-
Il thought You must know her. She
used to study me when she was little
plnk-faced girl, Years and years ago
She and Jack studied me together.
They We're very fond of me, and sup
pose that is the reason have been
kept so long"
Jack again inquired the inquisi-
tive Dickens. who is Jack -
"Jack. continued the Geography.
enthusiastically. 'was the handsomest
boy | ever knew, and | knew whole
generation Of boys and girls too.
ought to know them we'll. for | was
read. thumbcd and studied bv them for
nearly forty years before Jack found
NE on the book shelf in his fathers IL
brary. where his older brother had left
me when he finished school and went
to se..
That doesn't explain how You hap
pened to be here" in terpo<ed Ben jon
son. .rudely. Come. tell us that"
Il was just about to tell you,'' con
tinued the Geography. "Iou see Jac k
took me t" school with him the very
first day he went there. 1t was the
little red school house under the hill.
\ on probably V know it, No: | real
~ thought every one knew where that
was. The master was very strict and
very cruel. So used to think. and cv
cry day he used TO whip nearly all the
boys and keep half the girls in at re-
cess. Just because they whispered.
and tell vou that boys and girls cam
keep from whispering in school any
more than from breathing. | said
NEARLY all the BOYS. Jack was one
he didn't whip. Why: Jack was Il
cripple. How did that happen: I'll
tell You. PhilliS-:he was Jack ;
swectheart-was the prcttiest Girl in
all the school. She was Younger than
Jack just year. He was twelve and
they loved each other just as much as
people Il good deal older than they
We're, if not Il little more. One dav
after school Jack and Phillis were slid
ing down the school hill on Jacks bic
sled. The master was out Watching
them. The road didn't run straioh
down the hill, but wound around down
through Il small grove of trees. The
road had been covered with water and
was ice from top To bottom. and the
Slcd> flew faster than the wind as they
went down. This afternoon PhilliS
sat in front of the sled, her little red
stockings curlcd up under her dress.
while Jack held ON behind and steer
ed with his legs. They started the
last slide they had-from the top. and
were gniug faster than they had ever
gone before. when PhilIi> gave Il little
scream and caught hold of the s!cl
tighter than ever. Jack looked over
her shoulder and saw 10" sled. piled
high with logs crossing the road. How
fast they We're going. and how slow il
crept along, The seconds seemed
like Years. They couldn't possibly
turn out, for it was in the very middl,
of the grove. 1t didn't take Jack long
to make up what his mind what to do
With quick sweep of his lee he turn,
ed the sled sideways. He couldn't